Apron closure and object storing device

ABSTRACT

A MOLDED, FLEXIBLE PLASTIC, CLOSURE DEVICE FOR APRONS HAS A PLURALITY OF HOOKS EXTENDING LATERALLY ACROSS THE DEVICE&#39;&#39;S VERTICAL CENTERLINE AND FACING INWARDLY TOWARDS THE CENTERLINE. IN USE, THE HOOKS COOPERATE WITH EYELETS IN THE SIDES OF AN APRON OF THE TYPE USED BY MARKET EMPLOYEES AND THE LIKE TO SECURE THE SIDES TOGETHER THROUGH THE DEVICE AT THE SMALL OF THE USER&#39;&#39;S BACK. RECEPTACLES, POUCHES AND THE LIKE ON THE DEVICE STORE OBJECTS UTILIZED BY ITS WEARER. THE HOOKS ARE RECESSED FROM THE INNER, BACK ABUTTING SURFACE OF THE DEVICE TO PREVENT THE HOOKS FROM TOUCHING THE USER&#39;&#39;S BACK. EXCESSIVE HOOKS MAY READILY BE REMOVED FROM THE DEVICE AFTER IT IS SIZED TO SUIT A PARTICULAR USER&#39;&#39;S WAIST MEASUREMENT.

Jan. 12, 1971 c. B. JEFFCOAT 3,553,735

APRON CLOSURE AND OBJECT STORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1969 arm? :73.

United States Patent US. Cl. 2-52 I 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A molded, flexible plastic, closure device for aprons has a plurality of hooks extending laterally across the devices vertical centerline and facing inwardly towards the centerline. In use, the hooks cooperate with eyelets in the sides of an apron of the type used by market employees and the like to secure the sides together through the device at the small of the users back. Receptacles, pouches and the like on the device store objects utilized by its wearer. The hooks are recessed from the inner, back abutting surface of the device to prevent the hooks from touching the users back. Excessive hooks may readily be removed from the device after it is sized to suit a particular users Waist measurement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved apron closure device having receptacles for storing objects which is used to close the sides of an apron at the back of the apron wearer.

Aprons are extensively used by personnel in such areas of commerce as markets. Aprons are fabricated from cotton or Dacron blended fabrics. A typical apron has two large pockets located at the thighs of the wearer and a smaller pocket at the top of the bib of the apron for storing small marking pens or the like. The apron flares out- Wardly from the bib to present sides which are normally secured together at the small of a users back by, for example, strings. A neck piece in the form of a strap is utilized to support the bib about the wearers neck.

Typically, those who use the aprons carry apron-damaging articles in the pockets. For example, market employees often carry box openers having sharp, razor-like edges which cut and tear the aprons pockets. Other objects, such as bulky equipment marker items, are also carried in the pockets of an apron. These objects, too, are frequently responsible for apron damage. For example,

when an attendant is required to carry a heavy box against his body, the box and an object contained in an apron pocket can wear a hole in the pocket.

Users of aprons of the type relevant here are often required to present an attractive, well kept appearance. This requirement results in frequent laundering of aprons and the necessity to avoid unseemly appearing mends accasioned by pocket repair. As a consequence, aprons which must be kept neat in appearance are prone to a very short life.

Apart from the problem of apron pocket damage is the problem of tie strings employed to secure the sides of an apron to the back of its user. During the laundering of aprons, these strings tend to snarl among themselves and with the strings of other aprons. As a result, the strings tend to tear from their aprons and to tangle aprons together. To overcome this problem, apron suppliers, typically laundries, have provided aprons with short, stubby strings. But this solution has proven unsatisfactory because it limits the waist size variation which a given apron is capable of accommodating.

Long, grommeted tie strings adapted to secure the sides of the apron at the wearers back and to be tied at the 3,553,735 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 wearers front have also been used. Unfortunately, these long strings have a tendency to get lost, requiring replacement and the labor expense of grommeting the string.

Thus, there is a present need for an apron closure device which is capable of securing an apron at the back of its user wtihout presenting laundry difliculties and excessive maintenance problems, while at the same time providing a place for storing objects used in the wearers trade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apron closure and object storing device which overcomes the problems just discussed.

In one form the present invention contemplates an apron closure and object storing device which has a closure and support member adapted for placement against the small of a users back. Means are provided for detachably securing the sides of an apron through the closure and support member. At least one receptacle or the like is provided on the closure and support member for storing objects attendant with the apron wearers trade.

Preferably, the securing means includes a plurality of hooks disposed on the inner surface of the closure and support member with the hooks facing the members vertical centerline. These hooks may be recessed to prevent discomfort from books bearing against an apron wearers back. The hooks cooperate with eyelets in the sides of the apron to secure the sides together through the support and closure member.

To accommodate the vast waist measurement deviation requirement of a standardized apron, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides laterally extending extensions on the closure and support member. These extensions mount some of the hooks. In use, it is contemplated that a wearer be assigned his own closure and support device. A particular user would select the hooks appropriate to his particular waist size. The remaining hooks may then be severed from the closure and support member and, if waist size permits, the extensions as well may be severed.

The apron closure and object storing device of the present invention affords easy apron closure at the back of the aprons user. Waist size accommodation is readily effected by the number of hooks of the support and closure member. A variety of receptacles, pouches or the like may be mounted on the closure and support member for storing the tools of the apron wearers trade. For example, in the case of a butcher, clips extending outwardly of the plane of the support and closure member and adapted to receive the blades of knives may be used. A stockboys receptacles would be sized for the storage of box markers, pens, box openers, feather dusters and the like.

By providing storage for objects at the back of a user, the problems attendant with pocket wear in aprons are overcome. Inasmuch as apron closure is effected not by strings, but instead by a readily detachable member, the problems of laundering and laundering maintenance are overcome.

These and other feautres, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apron suitable for use with the improved closure and support device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred form of the closure and support device of the present invention secured to the sides of an apron which is shown only partially;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a clip to secure a knife blade in the FIG. 4 embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an improved closure and support device is illustrated. This device includes a closure and support member and a plurality of receptacles 12. through 22 formed integrally with the support member.

A rear side .24 of the support member is adapted to fit the small of an apron users back by conforming to its shape, the device being flexible. This side is recessed or indented at 26 for receiving a plurality of hooks 28. These hooks, formed integrally with the support and closure member, extend the width of the device and are oriented such that they always face the vertical centerline of the device. The hooks face inwardly towards the vertical centerline of the device so as to be engageable with eyelets in the apron and draw the sides of the apron towards each other.

The closure and support member has a pair of extensions 30 and 32 extending laterally from either side of the member. These extensions accommodate some of the hooks 28. Thus, a substantial length is provided for apron engagement to accommodate varied waist sizes. As will become apparent subsequently, in many instances these extensions may be removed.

Receptacles 12 through 22 may take any number of forms. The ones shown here are suitable for use with market attendants. Thus, a ring-like holder receptacle 12 for a feather duster may be provided. The ring-like receptacle extends from one side of a relatively deep receptacle 14 which may be used for a plastic pricing sign. A pair of pen receptacles in the form of cylindrical members 18 may be provided interiorly of an accessory receptacle 16 to hold ballpoint pens or the like. Still another receptacle 20 may be utilized for a box opener. Finally, a specially sized receptacle 22, for a self-inking marking stamp may be provided.

The receptacles illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be varied to suit the needs of an apron wearer. The ones illustrated here are merely to depict the invention.

Preferably, the closure and support device of the present invention is formed of a flexible plastic. Suitable plastics are polyethylene and polypropylene which may be injection molded to form an integral device with the desired compartments, pouches and the like. Hooks 28 are also integrally molded within the balance of the device. These hooks, as well as extensions 30 and 32, may then be readily removed, as by a box opener, after the particular device and its particular user are sized to accommodate an apron.

The apron illustrated in FIG. 1 shows the versatility of the closure and support device of the present invention. This apron is one in standard use in markets and the like today. Generally, it comprises a body portion 34, bib portion 36 and a neck piece 3-8. The body portion has sides 40 and 42. Pairs of grommets or eyelets 44 and 46 are affixed at the upper corners of these sides. If desired, the grommets may be reinforced by a double backing of fabric. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the apron sides are engageable through grommets 44 and 46 with hooks 28 such that the sides of the apron are under tenson.

The receptacles of the device are disposed out of the way of areas of likely contact, as when the apron wearer must carry a box. The apron depicted does not have pockets and thus the problems of pocket tearing and ripping, occasioned by storing items such as box openers and the like in a susceptible area, are overcome.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternate arrangement suitable for use as a closure and support device. In most details, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is identical to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, a mounting and support member 10 is provided which is formed of a flexible plastic. A plurality of hooks, identical to the FIGS. 2 and 3 embodiment, are disposed on the back side of the mounting and support member. These hooks engage grommets of an apron in an identical fashion as that previously described. This particular embodiment is useful for butchers. A series of integrally molded plastic clips 48, one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 5, are disposed to receive the blades of butcher knives. A hook 50 may be provided for, for example, a knife sharpener. Each of these clips is capable of elastic displacement to snugly receive the blade of a knife.

In use, the improved closure and support device of the present invention is sized to accommodate the Waist size of a given user. This is done by selecting the hooks which give the user the required waist fit in conjunction with the apron. After this is done, the remaining hooks may be removed. If the Waist size is relatively small, extensions 30 and 32 may also be removed. The device is secured to apron 34 by engagement of a hook in one of the grommets in each side of the apron.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with an apron having a pair of sides adapted to be secured at the back of its user, and an eyelet in each side proximate the top edge thereof an improved apron closure and object storing device comprising:

(a) a closure and support member adapted for placement against the small of a users back;

(b) means for detachably securin the closure and support member to each of the apron sides such that the apron sides are securable together through the closure and support member, the securing means comprising a plurality of hooks attached to the clossure and support member along a line extending laterally across such members vertical centerline with the hooks facing such centerline, whereby the apron sides may be secured together by engagement of a hook on each side of the closure and support members vertical centerline with a cooperating eyelet in each of the aprons sides; and

(c) at least one receptacle on the closure and support member for storing objects utilized by the user of the apron.

2. The improved apron closure and object storing device claimed in claim 1 wherein the hooks are recessed in a back face of the device.

'3. The improved apron closure and object storing device claimed in claim 1 including a pair of extensions extending laterally along the line of the hooks to provide increased waist sizing facility for the device.

4. The improved apron closure and object storing device claimed in claim 3 wherein the device is formed of a flexible plastic material to readily accommodate the curvature of a 'wearers back.

5. In combination with an apron of the type having a body portion, a bib above the body portion, a neck piece attached to the bib, sides extending from the body portion and adapted to fit around the sides of a user of the apron, and an eyelet in each side proximate the top of each side, an improved apron closure and object carrying device comprising:

(a) a backing member adapted to be placed in the small of a users back;

(b) a plurality of hooks disposed along the inner face of the member facing inwardly towards the devices vertical centerline, the hooks bein adapted to engage the eyelets and to secure the sides of the apron together through the backing member; and

(c) means for removably storing objects on the dev1ce. 6. The improvement claimed in claim 5 wherein the backing member has a recessed portion, the hooks being disposed in the recessed portion such that they will not bear against a users back. 3

7. The improvement claimed in claim 6 including an extension extending from each side of the backing member, the recess" of the backing member continuing into the extensions and some of the hooks being disposed in the extensions recess.

8. The improvement claimed in claim 7 wherein the device is formed of flexible plastic.

9. For use with an apron having a pair of sides adapted to be secured at the back of a user, an improved apron closure device comprising:

(a) a closure member adapted for placement against the small of a users back; 1

(b) a plurality of hooks attached to the closure member along a line extending laterally across such members vertical centerline with the hooks facing such centerline such that the apron may be secured together by engagement of a hook on each side of the closure members vertical centerline with a cooperatin eyelet in each of the aprons sides; and (c) the closure member and the hooks being formed of a flexible plastic material for accommodating the curvature of a wearers back and for the removal of hooks not required by a user to secure the apron together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,513 1902 Garms 2-52 849,268 4/ 1907 Rutenbeck. 2,846,685 8/ 195 8 Ehrich 25l 2,945,614 7/ 1960 Wittmann 25 1X FOREIGN PATENTS 582,275 9/ 1959 Canada.

2 ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner 

